The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is an initiative of the European Commission expected to be implemented in parallel with the Horizon 2020 programme. An important part of the CEF proposal is to develop a set of pan-European high-speed backbone services to connect European public administration institutions. Currently around 1 billion euros is earmarked for the development of these key digital services.

The GÉANT and NREN model of hierarchal connectivity is seen as an excellent model for such services and indeed could provide some synergies and leverage for the development of such a network. A study has been commissioned by the EC to explore the readiness of the stakeholders in each European State. The one year study being undertaken by a consortium of Capgemini & Deloitte is due to be completed by December 2013. It is important that GÉANT and the NRENs are recognized as key stakeholders and to this end TERENA and DANTE have been facilitating communications between the community and the consortium.

This open Birds-of-a-Feather session will provide an opportunity for members of the R&E networking community to hear a short presentation by the consultants and express their views on what should be considered in the report.